JA Manafaru will be relaunched this year

The UAE-based Dutco Group of Companies, owners of JA Resorts and Hotels has revealed that they have acquired a high-end resort in the Maldives. This is their first resort outside of Dubai.

Aerial view, JA Manafaru

The Maldives Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor who attended the formal transfer of ownership of the property said that he hoped this will pave the way for more large-scale investments in the Maldives by UAE companies.

The company in a statement stated that: “The investment does not just end with the purchase of the Resort as JA Resorts & Hotels have also earmarked several million dollars to making several upgrades and soft refurbishments to the resort ensure it is able to compete with the very best that the Maldives has to offer when it is relaunched later in the year as JA Manafaru.”

Tareq Baker, the chief executive of the Dutco Group said that the investment in the Maldives is “a part of the company’s larger expansion plan of high-end properties both within the UAE and in other markets outside of the Middle East.”

The resort formerly known as Beach House Iruveli is located on the most northerly tip of the Maldives, in the pristine, lagoon-ringed Haa Alifu Atoll, little explored by foreigners and totally unpolluted by the noise of passing speedboats.

The transfer to the resort is by domestic flight from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport to Hanimaadhoo domestic airport (50 min) and then a speed boat journey of 35 minutes from the domestic airport to the island of Manafaru.

It opened in February 2008 as “Beach House”, was renamed in 2010 as “Beach House, A Waldorf Astoria Resort”, and became a true “Waldorf Astoria” resort in March 2011.

Beach House at Iruveli Maldives comprises 83 villas, half of them perched overwater. The resort will be relaunched later this year as JA Manafaru.